"Huh? The New Board updated, and the top spot in the first realm actually changed hands! Which old monster has stepped into the world?"
Across the various cities, countless people were stunned. The unshakable Giant Spirit God had been shoved down to second place, while someone named "Taiyi" had boldly seized the pinnacle.
No one believed this could be a newcomer. It had to be a reclusive old monster returning to the mortal dust, displaying an unfathomable foundation.
After all, many experts had experienced the Giant Spirit God's methods firsthand; his fleshly divine radiance was practically insuperable, and no one had been able to pierce his defense.
A renowned expert had even commented that anyone who challenged him would meet with defeat.
It was precisely because of this that the monster on the New Board—the Giant Spirit God—had seen his fame skyrocket recently. Drawn by his reputation, many flocked to test themselves against this towering mountain.
Unfortunately, wave after wave met with failure.
Over the past few days, the number-one sword-dueling platform had effectively become a hot spot, drawing numerous figures of renown to challenge it or leave a record of their attempts.
"The Giant Spirit God was actually unseated?" Looking up at the radiant name that had replaced his, some found it hard to believe.
"Taiyi might very well be an illustrious figure from the recent ancient era!"
Some wished to trace him back to an even earlier time, but alas, no beings could live that long; the gods and immortals of antiquity had all exhausted their lifespans.
"It's likely a peerless Earth Immortal who rarely meets an equal, taking the field in person."
For that immovable monster to be overturned naturally set off a sensation and fierce debate.
Even several senior figures with immense backgrounds were astounded upon hearing the news, immediately dispatching subordinates to investigate who this Taiyi truly was.
If distant cities were already in such an uproar, the scene itself was an outright bedlam.
The Bodhi Saint stood in a daze. The scarecrow who had walked into the immortal town alongside him had not only jumped ahead of him in line, but had actually claimed the top spot.
Earlier, he had viewed the other party as a youth, offering pointers in the tone of a veteran senior. Looking back now, his face burned with shame. That had turned out to be an old monster who had thoroughly fooled his discerning eyes.
The Bodhi Saint harbored grave suspicions: *Could he be older than me and possess an even higher seniority?*
At this moment, high-spirited battle intent surged in his chest. He wanted to challenge that old fellow who had deceived him—Taiyi.
Yet there were simply too many people present right now, with a great many rushing over from other cities upon hearing the news. Was it appropriate for him to step up amid such a fervor? The Bodhi Saint decided to wait a while before taking the stage.
Not just him, but even the newly defeated Tianzun wished to return to the field and contest the vanguard once more, eager to test just how formidable Taiyi's saber radiance truly was.
There was also the mysterious woman, Guanghan, who had slipped from second to third place. She too stared intently at the figure atop the highest sword-dueling platform, wanting to measure this person herself.
As for the other experts, many among them had fervent gazes, itching for a try. They wanted to experience Taiyi's methods firsthand. After all, no one could die in this place; even if gravely wounded, they would be healed by the descending Dao rhymes.
Standing on the sword-dueling platform, Qin Ming was communicating with the glowing New Board. Mysterious text materialized before his eyes, laying out various reward options for him.
"Illumination by the Rule Realm: inspects one's own deficiencies and provides methods for optimization." To many, this option held immense temptation.
"Bestowal of Dao chains: aids in refining the spirit?" Qin Ming felt a chill and skipped this option directly; he already knew there was something wrong with Yujing's Dao chains.
"A manual of the Immortal Family Body-Refining Scripture: upon reaching the ultimate level, one can achieve a supreme golden body." Qin Ming was somewhat tempted, but then felt suspicious—could this be the body-refining technique of the Tianzun he had just fought?
He asked, "May I preview the first few pages of the scripture to see if it suits me?"
The New Board held him in high regard and gave him preferential treatment, actually agreeing to the request.
Lines of glowing immortal script surfaced before Qin Ming, promptly transforming into the Yezhou script he could read, complete with a series of mysterious illustrations.
He quickly made his judgment: *It is profound and truly remarkable, but it won't necessarily surpass my Classic of Tempering the Body to Unite with the Dao.*
Once that mysterious scripture he had obtained from the esoteric sect was trained to the highest level, one could slay deities purely with the physical body, without needing to draw upon heavenly light.
Furthermore, Qin Ming learned that this reward would not grant the complete Immortal Family Body-Refining Scripture. It still depended on his future performance, requiring him to travel to the next city and take the stage to challenge its defenders.
There were quite a few options. Some tempted him, but none set his heart racing; he found himself paralyzed by choice.
There were also rewards that required no selection, coming as complimentary gifts—such as Nine Heavens Pure Spiritual Qi to cleanse the physical body, and purple qi from beyond the heavens that could extend one's lifespan.
Text surfaced before his eyes, informing him that he could also choose to defer his selection, waiting until he finished challenging the second realm before using his accumulated battle record to claim even greater opportunities.
Qin Ming nodded. "Let's defer it, then. I hope the subsequent rewards will bring me a pleasant surprise and not disappoint me."
In truth, many confident experts had made the same choice. That was also why some who had left would turn back to defend their rank on the board.
Finally, the board's text surfaced, asking Qin Ming whether he wished to exert his strength anew and leave behind his most potent miraculous method to help defend this sword-dueling platform.
"No need," Qin Ming said, shaking his head. If someone could breach that saber radiance of his—which was already stronger than the Four Imperials force—he wouldn't mind returning to fight them in person.
In fact, he quite hoped someone in this realm would stand up and engage him in a grand showdown.
Qin Ming leaped down from the sword-dueling platform. Almost everyone's gaze was fixed on him, many filled with fervent enthusiasm. Several figures whose true identities were grandmasters or sect masters stepped forward with boundless warmth, while several younger men bowed deeply.
Even an old man suspected of being an Earth Immortal cupped his hands and nodded slightly toward him.
Unable to gauge his depth, the crowd assumed he was a reclusive senior who had emerged from seclusion in this extraordinary era.
A few even suspected he might be a decaying Heavenly Immortal arriving in person.
Every move Qin Ming made drew intense attention. Wherever he passed, the crowd treated him with the utmost courtesy.
"Fellow Daoist, why the rush to leave?" the Bodhi Saint spoke up. This time, as he used the words "Fellow Daoist," his expression was entirely natural, no longer considering Qin Ming a "young friend" in his heart.
Qin Ming knew what he meant: he wanted to take the platform and challenge the top spot.
This Bodhi Saint had a mysterious background and was undeniably powerful. Qin Ming was somewhat curious about his identity as well, but he had no desire to linger.
Right now, he had become the center of attention. He didn't want to be scrutinized and observed like this, because he was no veteran senior at all—the more he spoke, the greater the chance of slipping up.
"Fellow Daoist, my time after exiting seclusion is very tight. I shall go ahead to scout the path for you," Qin Ming said, cupping his hands. Shedding any youthful demeanor, he resumed the poise of an "old senior."
Beside them, an elder sighed in admiration. "Such is the demeanor of an eminent senior. After claiming the top spot, he remains so calm, truly unperturbed by honor or disgrace. How many could possess such a harmonious state of mind?"
For a moment, many joined in praise, believing that Senior Taiyi's mental realm had long since ascended to heights they could only look up to.
Qin Ming noticed that among those showing him deep respect were actually a few people he disliked, such as the old grandmaster from the Cui clan, as well as Su Yuxiao, a grandmaster of the immortal path.
*Forget it. I'm a respected, venerable senior now. I won't bother stooping to the level of these juniors for the moment.*
He walked toward the outskirts of the town, followed by a large entourage heading with him toward the next city.
Behind them, the immortal town remained bustling with excitement, as countless eyes turned toward the highest sword-dueling platform.
Among them, Tianzun, whose body refinement had reached the absolute limit, was quite tempted, while the Bodhi Saint could no longer hold back. Both were already intent on taking the stage.
Above the Ninth Heaven, the Night Mist Sea was vast and boundless. Few dared venture lightly into those desolate regions; the celestial toxic fires and wind tribulations were utterly terrifying.
Along the way, Qin Ming's journey proceeded smoothly.
The old senior Taiyi arrived at the city corresponding to the second realm. It was not very large, amounting only to a small city whose damaged walls bore the mottled marks of time.
"Senior Taiyi has arrived? Could he be planning to claim the top spot here as well?"
Along the way, many looked toward him, and quite a few warmly welcomed him, escorting the scarecrow Qin Ming into the divine city like stars surrounding the moon.
"Could... could it be him?"
Inside the city, several people stared blankly at the faintly familiar scarecrow, yet dared not step forward to confirm it.
They had once ridden the wooden boat with Qin Ming to ascend to the heavens. Some among them had been snobbish, and upon seeing that he couldn't undergo spirit wandering for long and needed to borrow a vessel, they had paid him little heed.
"It definitely isn't him. There are plenty of scarecrows in every city. Senior Taiyi is at least a peerless master; how could he be that minor cultivator?"
"Indeed, their auras are completely different. Can't you feel it? This senior possesses majesty without anger, carrying the presence of a Heavenly God in the clouds looking down upon all living beings."
They dispelled their doubts, realizing the two bore entirely different dispositions.
"So he is Taiyi! My defeat was not in vain! To think the old senior ranked number one once challenged me! Haha, even if I was squeezed off the New Board, I'm satisfied!"
"No way, brother! You actually fought Senior Taiyi on the sword-dueling platform? That's something you can brag about for a lifetime!"
The challenger who had previously been depressed was now beaming with joy, having gained an extraordinary topic of conversation.
After arriving, Qin Ming spotted familiar faces in the crowd, such as Helian Zhaoyu. Furthermore, Little Rulai was looking around suspiciously, scrutinizing him again and again.
*Could the Patriarch have arrived in person?* Little Rulai harbored serious doubts, wondering if the old ancestor of Pugong had arrived riding a dragon.
Everyone was saying that Taiyi was also an immortal body refiner who had ventured even farther along this path than Tianzun, faintly assuming the posture of the foremost figure in body refinement.
Yet Little Rulai felt that whether it was immortal body refiners or the ancient drudges, none could compare to the creator of the Chaos force, that living sage.
His gaze grew increasingly fervent. The more he looked, the more he felt it truly might be the old ancestor of their lineage arriving in person!
*In a moment, I'll return to the immortal town and step onto that sword-dueling platform to take a look!* He prepared to experience firsthand just how strong the slash delivered by Taiyi truly was.
Helian Zhaoyu looked at Qin Ming with a kind of fanaticism in his eyes. Such a figure was the true target of his aspiration. He did not belong to the realm faction; what he pursued was to be the strongest within the same realm.
In his view, so long as one's bone structure and innate talent remained constant, certain realms would eventually be breached in due time. Thus, pursuing the ultimate strength in every single domain was undeniably the most fitting choice.
Qin Ming headed straight for the area where the sword-dueling platform was located, raising his head to view the glowing New Board in the night sky. The rankings here had changed considerably compared to the first realm.
On the shimmering New Board, Guanghan was ranked fourth, Tianzun was ranked sixth, while the Giant Spirit God had vanished entirely.
"The disparity is this large?" Qin Ming was astonished. Aside from two familiar names, the rest of the top ten had been replaced, all being relatively unfamiliar.
Someone seemed to notice his confusion and said, "Some people didn't necessarily fall off the board; they simply changed their names because they didn't want to be watched and disturbed."
For instance, many speculated that the one ranked third, "Ferocious Beast," was actually the Giant Spirit God. Even though he had altered his form and temperament, his underlying nature was difficult to conceal in a life-and-death clash.
Qin Ming nodded. "I see. His rank actually dropped to third."
The one ranked second on the New Board was: Heavenly Immortal.
In this era where seventh-realm Earth Immortals already reigned supreme, an eighth-realm flawless Heavenly Immortal couldn't possibly appear. Even if one existed, they would be decayed and incomplete, differing little from an Earth Immortal.
Yet this person dared to adopt such a name; their ambition was glaringly evident.
As for the mysterious powerhouse ranked first, even Qin Ming couldn't help staring at the name again and again. That person had registered as: Lord of Yujing.
"This one truly dared to take such a name," Qin Ming remarked.
Beside him, no one dared to respond; the crowd remained dead silent. Taiyi was indeed a peerless Earth Immortal, but judging by appearances, that Lord of Yujing possessed an equally terrifying background. Who dared offer casual commentary?
Qin Ming suddenly realized why so many people changed their names and adopted new identities. Just like him right now, every move he made drew intense scrutiny.
A casual comment prompted by fleeting sentiment might already stir up a commotion.
Furthermore, no matter where he went, people's eyes followed him. If he were genuinely an established Earth Immortal, it wouldn't matter, but he was a youth brimming with vigorous vitality. A moment's carelessness might lead to an unfitting action.
Now, even he felt like changing identities again.
Qin Ming had already communicated with the New Board and found that starting fresh with a new moniker had no adverse effect; all final achievements would ultimately accumulate onto Taiyi.
Suddenly, a commotion stirred within the city. Many people broke into hushed discussions, glancing toward the scarecrow Taiyi with increasingly fervent gazes.
"What happened?" Qin Ming asked.
From the distance, a grandmaster walked over and respectfully replied to him, saying, "Just now, Tianzun initiated a challenge against you. After ascending the sword-dueling platform, he was cleaved apart by the saber radiance you left behind!"
Tianzun's strength was obvious to all, holding exceptionally high ranks across several major realms. For him to be cleaved in two by a single slash of saber radiance was truly terrifying.
Earlier, when he fought Taiyi, though he had been defeated, it had by no means been this miserable.
The crowd realized that Taiyi's true strength was even greater than what he had displayed earlier!
Back in the immortal town, Tianzun had been holding back a surge of indignation. After ascending the stage this time, he had no intention of avoiding Taiyi's edge. He deployed his strongest methods to directly confront the saber radiance that surpassed the Four Imperials force, only for the outcome to be... even more miserable than before.
Soon, another piece of news arrived: Guanghan couldn't hold back and had taken the stage as well, only to meet defeat all the same, splashing blood across the sword-dueling platform.
"Latest update! The Bodhi Saint has also entered the field, bypassing several others to aim his sword straight at the top spot!"
Many knew he was exceptionally strong and would inevitably challenge the pinnacle. Now that he had indeed done so, a crowd waited eagerly for the result.
"Breaking news! The Bodhi Saint unleashed an unrivaled sword strike, so brilliant that none could keep their eyes open!"
"Alas, he was still defeated!"
Not only at the scene itself, but even in other distant cities, this series of challenges set off enormous waves, leaving people unable to calm their minds for a long time.
Taiyi had not even appeared in person; a single slash of saber radiance he had left behind had repelled those old monsters with astounding backgrounds.
"It can pretty much be confirmed: Taiyi is the strongest in the first realm. No one can pass his trial!"
A prominent figure offered this evaluation, which was subsequently acknowledged by several senior masters.
As a result, popularity at the first realm's sword-dueling platform exploded. Even though Taiyi had departed, numerous luminaries still rushed over—not to succeed in the challenge, but to see who could hold out the longest, treating it as a milestone to record.
Several mighty figures also learned of the stir. One murmured to himself, "Just which old monster has arrived?"
Immediately after, he spoke calmly: "In the earlier realms, body refiners hold the advantage. I shall wait for you in the later realms."
Qin Ming paid no heed to any of this. His gaze was already cast upon the road ahead, pondering to himself: *The difficulty increases in the second realm. Can I suppress that Heavenly Immortal... and the Lord of Yujing?*
Chapter 436